Fashion brands can make a huge difference by choosing environmentally friendly fabrics. Sustainable fabrics require less water, fuel, and energy for production, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recycled wool is a popular choice for zero waste and upcycled clothing brands, as it saves water, prevents the use of toxic chemicals for dyeing, and keeps valuable textile leftovers from landfills. It’s also an excellent option for reducing carbon emissions and waste.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate a few of our favorite types of environmentally friendly fabrics used in clothing.
Eco-friendly Fabrics
The best eco-friendly fabrics are made from environmentally friendly materials. These include organic cotton and linen. These are typically softer and more comfortable than synthetic fabrics. They are also more durable and last longer. Some of these fabrics also use less water and pesticides in their production. Choosing a suitable fabric is one of the most important decisions you can make when shopping for clothes.
The most sustainable fabrics have been certified by a third-party body for their sustainability.
Another good choice is recycled polyester, which uses plastic repurposed from water bottles. It has the same softness as virgin polyester and can be used to create a variety of styles. It is also more resistant to ripping and stretching, which makes it an excellent choice for activewear. It is often mixed with other fabrics, including cotton and lyocell, to increase its durability.
Nylon is a polymer made from coal and petroleum, which is why it’s such a poor option for sustainability. It is also a non-biodegradable fabric that doesn’t breathe, generating large amounts of nitrous oxide, 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
Bamboo is a popular sustainable material that is more environmentally friendly than cotton or polyester. However, it’s essential to make sure that you are getting bamboo that has been sustainably grown and harvested.
Another fabric that is gaining popularity is lyocell, a semi-synthetic, plant-based fabric similar to silk but requires far fewer chemicals. It is a good substitute for viscose, which uses harsh chemicals and deforests the environment. The most sustainable lyocell is made from the wood pulp of eucalyptus trees, which don’t require much water or must be sprayed with pesticides.
Recycled Fabrics
Although many clothing brands promote themselves as eco-friendly, most fabrics are made from non-sustainable materials. The good news is that there are more environmentally friendly fabric options for environmentally conscious consumers. These greener fabrics are made from recycled or organic materials and are manufactured through a circular process that minimizes the industry’s environmental impact. Recycled fabrics are becoming increasingly common in the fashion world and are an excellent alternative to conventional cotton. They require less water and energy to produce than traditional textiles and perform equally well. They also limit the environmental waste caused by cotton production, which is often a significant source of pollution and deforestation.
According to a new report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, only about 15% of used clothes and fabric get reused or recycled in the United States. Most of this waste is in landfills or incinerators, wasting precious resources and contributing to climate change. The problem is mainly due to the fast fashion industry, which produces trendy designs quickly and cheaply.
The best way to reduce this problem is to use recycled textiles derived from secondhand or unwanted garments, fabric waste, or leftovers from the manufacturing process. These environmentally friendly fabrics are then respun into new yarns and used to make clothing or other textile products. The method of recycling textiles has its challenges, however. For example, it is essential to ensure that the textiles don’t have any food waste or other grime on them, which could contaminate the machines and cause them to malfunction.
Some of the most popular recycled fabrics are polyester, which is regenerated from existing plastic bottles and boxes. This material is widely used in sportswear, lingerie, and swimwear. Another option is lyocell derived from wood cellulose, such as that found in eucalyptus trees. This material is more environmentally friendly than rayon, made from a synthetic fiber called viscose that requires a lot of oil and chemicals.
Biodegradable Fabrics
The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest polluters, responsible for greenhouse gases, pollution, and waste. More and more brands are incorporating biodegradable fabrics into their collections to reduce this impact. Biodegradable fabric is made from materials that break down quickly in the environment and avoid pollution, which makes it an excellent option for sustainable fashion.
Different biodegradable fabrics are available, from natural plant-based materials like cotton, hemp, and linen to manufactured textiles like polyester, acrylic, and polyurethane.
Silk is another naturally biodegradable fabric that could be more ethical than other alternatives. To make silk, producers boil silkworms alive. This process causes the worms to die inhumanely, resulting in long silk threads. It can take up to 15000 silkworms to create just one meter of silk.`
Sustainable Fabrics
Sustainable environmentally friendly fabrics are made with environmentally-friendly dyes extracted from leaves and fruits. These eco-friendly fabric options are also safer for the people who wear them and have a much lower environmental footprint than traditional clothes. Organic cotton is grown using eco-friendly farming methods and does not need pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Hemp, on the other hand, is a renewable resource that does not require pesticides or herbicides. Linen is another excellent option; it does not release dangerous environmental toxins. In addition, sustainable fabrics are often of better quality than cheaply-made clothes. These fabrics are not only softer and more comfortable, but they can also last longer than their synthetic counterparts. They are also more durable and breathable than synthetics, making them ideal for outdoor apparel and activewear.
Read more: The Basics of Environmental Resources